June 1864 - Sweetwater 

Beth was sitting at her desk writing a letter when she looked up and saw Lou’s wagon approaching. She headed downstairs and was waiting on the porch when Lou stopped the wagon. Reaching up, she took two-year Tommy from Lou’s lap, or what was left of it, and set him down. Then she stood back 
as Lou gingerly stepped down. 

“Thanks,” said Lou when she was down. 

“Hard to climb down when you can’t see your feet, huh? How you feeling?” Beth asked as she led Tommy inside the house. 

“Hot and uncomfortable. Can’t believe I still have two months until this baby is born.” 

Beth laughed at Lou’s exaggerated tones and the dramatic way she lowered herself onto the couch. Little Tommy quickly pulled out the small stash of toys that was kept on hand for his visits and busied himself stacking blocks one on top of another. 

Lou watched him quietly for a moment and then turned to Beth. “Rachel not here?” 

“No, she’s out at the Perkins place.” 

“How’s she doin’?” 

“Who? Rachel or Mrs. Perkins?” 

“Both,” Lou said with a small laugh. “But mainly Mrs. Perkins.” 

“She’s ‘bout as well as can be expected,” Beth said heading into the kitchen. “Rachel’s helping her pack up her things. She’s going to her sister’s in Sacramento.” 

“I thought she and her husband were from Philadelphia.” 

“She said she can’t go back east after her husband was killed in the war. So she’s going west,” Beth answered as she came back into the room carrying glasses of lemonade. 

“The poor woman, she’d only been married a year.” Lou said as she accepted her glass. Then with a smile asked, “So how’s Rachel doin’?” 

“She’s doing better. Not as sick now and she’s getting her color back. Not quite up to cookin’, but she can eat.” 

“That’s good. Good thing you’re here, or poor Rachel would starve on Bryce’s cookin’.” 

Beth set her glass on the table beside her chair as laughter overcame her. “Yes, Bryce may be a wonderful man, but he never learned how to cook. Besides, had to finally start earning my keep around here.” 

After the end of the Express, Teaspoon convinced the town to hire Rachel as the new schoolteacher. She’d considered selling the old way station since everyone had moved on and it was more space than she needed. Newcomer Bryce Cook expressed an interest in the land, and pretty soon after became smitten with Rachel. The two quickly married and Beth and Lou were glad they still had their friend so close by. 

Beth’s mother had taken sick again soon after the wedding, and this time did not recover. Mr. Thorne, grieved over the loss of his wife, decided to move his family to St. Joseph and make a new start away from farming. Beth had been helping Rachel at the school and didn’t want to leave the town, or the friends that had become her second family. Her father understood her desire to remain, and her need to have her independence and when Rachel and Bryce offered to let Beth stay with them, her father agreed to let her stay. 

“Kid head to Fort Laramie this morning?” Beth asked Lou. 

“Yes. The Army wants to purchase some more horses,” Lou told her. Then cautiously added, “He’s also goin’ to see if anyone’s heard any news on Cody or Jimmy.” 

Beth winced, but tried to keep her voice light as she asked, “Still haven’t heard anything?” 

“No, not for several months. Cody said in his last letter that he hadn’t heard from Jimmy in a while.” 

“Last time Teaspoon heard from him was at Christmas,” Beth said, unable to keep the sadness out of her voice. 

“I’m sure he’s fine,” Lou said, unsure of what else she could say to her friend. Jimmy had ceased all communication with anyone but Teaspoon, and now even those letters were becoming scarce. Beth was prevented from answering by the sound of Rachel arriving home. Beth was out the door instantly, Lou following slowly behind her. 

“Hello Beth,” Rachel said as she stopped the buckboard in the yard. “Hi Lou, hi Tommy.” 

Rachel climbed down from the seat and moved to the back of the buckboard where she had several packages and a small crate. “Beth, this arrived at Tompkins’ for you.” 

Curious, Beth carried it in and set it on the table. With Lou’s help she pried off the lid, and moved the packing material. 

“It’s your book,” Rachel said excitedly. She reached in the box and picked up several books, handing books to Lou and Beth and then she opened the one in her hands.

Beth had always made up stories for her younger sisters and Ben. Her mother had encouraged her to write them down, but she’d never shared them with anyone but family. After Tommy was born, she would tell him the stories. Lou heard them and Beth finally got the courage to let Rachel and Lou read them, and they had encouraged her to send them to a publisher. Beth refused at first, but finally she did. 

Her father had met a publisher in St. Joseph and Beth sent the stories to him. He liked them and decided to print them as a collection of short stories. Now he had sent some books to her. 

“This town is gonna be lucky to have a published author for their schoolteacher,” Rachel said. Now that she was married and having a baby, she was going to stop teaching. Beth had been helping for so long and the children liked her, that the town hired her to be the teacher. 

“Aw, come on Rachel, they were lucky to have you,” Beth told her. “I don’t plan on changin’ much.” 

“You mean you’ll still teach math with a deck of cards?” Lou asked with a smile. 

“Maybe, just for fun and to spite all those pious ladies in town who look down their noses at people.” 

Lou opened the book and softly gasped, “Oh, Beth. Rachel, read the dedication.” 

“’To my two families for their inspiration and encouragement. Papa, Becca, Molly, Kate and Benjy Thorne. And Teaspoon, Rachel, Kid, Lou, Buck, Noah, Ike and Cody - you are my dearest friends. And to Mama and James, thank you for your support. I’ll love you forever. E.R.T.’ Beth, that’s beautiful.” 

“I couldn’t have done any of this without all of you,” she said sincerely. “Those are your guys’ books to keep. I’ll give the others theirs when they come next week.” 

The following week was an exciting time for those in Sweetwater. Noah, his wife, Cassie, and their daughter, Sally arrived from Chicago, followed by Ike, his new bride Jill, and Buck who all returned from California. They’d come to visit everyone and celebrate Beth’s birthday. Beth felt it was unnecessary for her birthday to be the reason for everyone coming, but Lou said that was one reason was as good as another. All that mattered to her was that family was reunited and together once more. 

Everyone joked, remembered old times, and told what they’d been up to in the previous years. Ike decided a gold field was not a proper place to live with a new wife and was thinking of moving closer 
to Sweetwater to be near everyone. 

“Why not actually move back to Sweetwater?” Beth asked that night at dinner. “The bank hasn’t sold my pa’s place. Maybe you could make it the McSwain place.” 

“Beth, I thought Ken Miller was hoping that it’d be yours and his place,” Kid said with a smile. 

“I know what he was hopin’, but it’s not gonna happen. I turned him down.” 

“As I recall,” Noah said, with a jovial laugh, “Lou turned down Kid several times before she finally said yes.” 

“Well, I ain’t Lou and Ken ain’t the Kid.” 

“You mean he’s not Jimmy.” 

“Buck!” Rachel said as Beth went pale with embarrassment and anger. 

“Beth, I’m..” Buck stammered as Beth’s chair scraped back across the floor. The room was dead quiet as she turned and rushed outside. 

“I didn’t mean it like that,” he said sheepishly, as everyone glared at him. “There’s still no word?” 

“Not since Christmas,” Teaspoon said. “And nothing from Cody for several months.” 

“Excuse me,” Lou said getting up. 

“Lou?” 

“I’ll be fine Kid. I’m just gonna check on her.” 

Lou walked outside and saw Beth sitting on some crates near the barn. She looked up as Lou approached, and wiped her red-rimmed eyes. 

“Good thing you weren’t sitting on the fence,” Lou joked, as she lowered herself down to a crate. “Beth, Buck didn’t mean to hurt you.” 

“I know. I just…I just feel like a fool. When he left, Jimmy said it wouldn’t be fair for him to ask me to wait. And I’m really not trying to, but I love him. I try not to compare others to him, but they’re not him.” 

“I know,” Lou said. 

“I asked him to stay, even though I knew he wouldn’t. Jimmy was unlike anyone I’d every met, and the first person I fell in love with. He’s only written me a few times. The last time he wrote me was over a year ago. Finally I just gave up writing him. It took almost three years, but it’s finally sinking 
in. I guess he just didn’t love me as much as I love him.” 

She stood up and wiped her face. “I’m gonna go for a walk. I’ll be back in a bit Lou.” 

Lou watched her slowly walk off, and sighed for the pain her friend was in. She looked up when she felt Kid come up beside her and put his arm around her shoulder. 

“She going to be alright?” Kid asked. 

“I hope so,” Lou said. Putting her arm around Kid, she stood and they walked back to the house. 
 
 

Chapter Twelve

“Where’s Beth?” Bryce asked his wife as he walked in the house followed by Teaspoon. 

“She went for a ride. You know she goes down to the stream on her birthday.” 

“She’ll miss her own party,” Teaspoon commented, as he tried to sneak a taste of the frosting from the cake. 

“Everyone won’t be here for an hour. She’ll be back by then,” she said as she swatted at Teaspoon and then Bryce who was reaching for a snap bean. “Now both of you get outta here, or I’ll put you to work.” 

Down at the stream, Beth was sitting by the water’s edge. Her shoes and stockings were off and she was dangling her feet in the water, letting it wash over them. She had brought the letters from Jimmy with her and was reading over them again. They were her only link to him and it hurt her as much as it helped her to read over them, but she just couldn’t bring herself to throw them in the water like she’d planned. 

Hearing horses approach, she quickly wiped her face and stuffed the letters in her pocket. She shielded her eyes against the sun and squinted to make out the two riders. As they got nearer, her heart leapt in her chest. She would have recognized the dark haired rider anywhere. 

“There she is, Sweetwater’s own author,” Cody called out, getting off his horse. 

“Cody!” she squealed as he wrapped her in a bear hug and swung her around. “I can’t believe you’re here! Everyone was getting so worried about you two.” 

Cody set her down and she turned to Jimmy. “Hello, Jimmy.” 

“Hi,” he replied stiffly. He was still sitting on his horse, his hat pulled low over his eyes, a serious expression set on his face. 

“Everyone’s here this week,” she said happily to Cody. “They’ll be so happy to see you. You can meet Cassie and Jill, and Tommy and Sally. I guess I should be getting back myself.” 

She reached down to gather her stockings and shoes. She could feel Jimmy watching her, but she couldn’t bring herself to look at him. She now felt so unsure of herself with him suddenly back and not speaking to her. 

Cody sensing the tension between the two said, “I’m gonna go there now. Don’t want Hickok stealing all my thunder. He can have his own separate welcome home.” He looked at both Jimmy and Beth, but realized the double meaning was lost on them. Giving a small shrug, he got on his horse 
and headed toward Rachel’s. 

Beth sat down and looked at the water while Jimmy was still on his horse. She couldn’t believe Cody had just ridden off when it must be obvious that neither she nor Jimmy wanted to be around the other right now. 

“You don’t have to stay,” she said to Jimmy. “Why don’t you catch up with Cody, I won’t be far behind.” 

“Cody’d probably shoot me just to keep from having to share the spotlight,” he said getting down off his horse. He walked over and sat down by her. “What are you doin’ out here if everyone’s back there?” 

“Nothing really. I come out here occasionally just to be by myself.” She was still looking down and nervously playing with her hair. There were so many things she wanted to say; she just didn’t even know where to begin. He looked over and saw she was wearing her silver teardrop earrings. 

“Kinda fancy earrings for a ride to the stream.” 

“Yeah, I guess,” she said as disappointed gripped her heart. “I put ‘em on and come down here on this date.” 

“What for?” 

“Just to remember things,” she said with an awkward shrug. She really wasn’t surprised that he’d forgotten it was her birthday. How could she really expect him to remember when he’d stopped writing to her. He obviously didn’t care enough about her to remember something like that. 

She put on her shoes, tied the laces and then stood up. “We should go. Rachel’ll have supper ready soon.” 

The ride back to Rachel’s house was painfully quiet. Beth hadn’t spoken since they’d left the stream, and Jimmy was pulled deep inside himself. His jumbled thoughts tumbling through him since he’d seen Beth. She was hurt that he could be so casual after all this time and was trying to rein in her emotions so she could appear as disinterested as Jimmy. They rode into the yard and climbed off their horses and started toward the house. They could hear everyone laughing at one of Cody’s stories as they stepped up on the porch. 

“Beth, look who’s here,” Rachel said, the excitement evident in her voice, as Beth walked into the house. 

“I know. I saw him down at the stream. He brought a friend,” she said and moved aside so everyone could see Jimmy standing behind her. 

“Jimmy!” Teaspoon exclaimed. “Son, are we glad to see you.” 

As everyone moved forward to hug Jimmy, Beth quietly slipped upstairs, noticed only by Lou. She noticed the standoffish nature of Jimmy and Beth and was confused and disappointed. ‘Apparently Jimmy hasn’t come around to his senses,’ she thought. ‘Well, we’ll just have to work on that.’ 

After Jimmy had been introduced to all the new additions to the family, Rachel looked around and asked, “Where’s Beth?” 

“I saw her go upstairs. I’ll go get her,” Lou said. 

“Well you better,” chuckled Teaspoon. “Wouldn’t be right to eat her birthday dinner without her. And I think everyone’s ready to eat this delicious smelling food.” 

‘Her birthday’, Jimmy thought with an inward groan. ‘That’s why she was at the stream, and the earrings.’ Jimmy remembered three years ago when he’d given them to her during the birthday party they had at the station for her. He remembered their ride to the stream, the growing attraction they both seemed to be feeling, and then finally their first kiss that night. His head came up as Beth walked downstairs, but then he quickly looked away. Lou, who was following behind, noticed the strange look on his face and then the quick glance away. She didn’t know what was going through Jimmy’s mind, but she was determined to find out. 

After dinner everyone sat around the table talking. Ike and Jill had taken a look at the old Thorne place and decided to buy it. They would be near everyone, especially Buck. Teaspoon had offered Buck a position as deputy, since the town was getting bigger and he needed more help than just Barnett. It was late into the night before anyone realized it. Tommy was curled up asleep on his father’s lap, and Sally was fast asleep in her mother’s arms. 

“We should let these young ‘uns get to bed, along with their parents,” Teaspoon said as he stretched languidly. “Jimmy, Cody, where are you two gonna stay?” 

“They can stay at our place,” Lou spoke up. “We’ll be able to find room for them.” 

“Thanks, Lou,” Cody said. Jimmy nodded his head, but felt that Lou had offered them a place awfully quickly. Somehow he had a bad feeling about her eagerness for more houseguests. 

Everyone walked outside to say good-bye. Ike and Jill headed to Kid and Lou’s place along with Jimmy and Cody. Noah and his family went upstairs to their room in Rachel’s house, and Buck and Teaspoon started back to the jail in town. Rachel walked up to Beth and laid her hand on the younger woman’s shoulder. 

“I’ll be in in just a minute,” she said as she turned her head to look at her friend. Then she smiled as Bryce put his arm around Rachel’s shoulder and led her inside. Beth sat down in the porch swing and softly pushed herself back and forth with the toe of her boot as she stared in the direction the others had ridden toward Kid and Lou’s. 

“I’m bein’ a fool,” she whispered angrily to herself, trying to keep the tears from falling. “Jimmy’s obviously moved on. I just have to do the same.” 
 
 

Chapter Thirteen

Three days later, everyone was gathered together once again for dinner. Noah and his family were going back to Chicago, and so the gathering was a quieter affair since they knew it was their last together. Rachel and Teaspoon hated that members of their family were starting to leave again. They knew it was only Noah and his family right now, they figured that Cody and Jimmy would probably be leaving soon to go back to the Army as well. Once again people were going their separate ways. Even though everyone knew it was a normal part of life, they couldn’t help but be saddened by the fact. 

As sad as everyone was that Noah was once again leaving, they were thrilled that some members of their family had chosen to come back to Sweetwater and settle down. Ike and Jill had purchased the old Thorne place and were beginning the task of moving in and getting settled. Buck was settling into the deputy position and was most days glad for the job. The only days he wasn’t happy were when Teaspoon left him alone with Barnett. Cody was still infected with desire to see the country. He was thinking of going back out with the Army, or maybe of heading off and doing some exploring on his own. After having seen sights beyond Sweetwater, he knew he would never be able to settle down there permanently. Jimmy didn’t know what he was going to do, but he wasn’t sure he wanted to return to the Army. He didn’t have the same desire to head out and explore as Cody did and he was tiring of the Army routine. 

Sweetwater held a certain pull for Jimmy, but the force that made him want to stay also made him want to leave. Beth. Over the past three days Jimmy and Beth had never spent any time together. In large groups she would listen to his and Cody’s stories, but if there were small groups of people talking, she was always in a different group. Everyone had thought the two of them would have spoken to each other, but as the days passed, they seemed to be going out of their way to avoid one another. 

The day after Noah and his family left, Rachel headed over to Ike and Jill’s house to see if they needed anything. Bryce went with her to talk to Ike about crops he could still plant in the growing season. Beth told Rachel that she would head into town and pick up the supplies for the week at Tompkins’ store. 

Walking in the store, Beth contemplated leaving and going to visit Teaspoon. There were only two other people in the store, Jimmy and Ken Miller. Then Beth told herself she was being silly. If Jimmy was going to stay in Sweetwater, though part of her hoped he wouldn’t, she would have to get used to seeing him. Ken was a whole different problem, however. The young lumber mill worker had always been extremely kind and attentive to her, but she’d always compared him in her mind to Jimmy. 

Both men looked toward the door when she walked in. Jimmy looked at her for a few seconds and then abruptly turned back to the display in front of him. Ken watched the interaction and smiled brightly when Beth looked his way. He had tried for nearly the past year to court her, but she’d never been very receptive to him. A few months back, he’d talked about the possibility of a future between the two of them, and she abruptly changed the subject and then avoided him for several days. 

Ken knew that former Express riders had returned to Sweetwater, and he’d seen Jimmy with Kid and Lou, so he figured he must have been a rider. He didn’t know about the man’s relationship to Beth, but he judged their cool interaction and wasn’t about to give up on his desire to see Beth. 

“Good afternoon, Beth,” he said, sweeping off his hat and walking toward her. 

“Hello, Ken,” she said, giving a polite smile. 

“Getting your supplies for the week?” he asked, gesturing to the list in her hand. 

Beth heard what sounded like a snort from Jimmy, but she ignored it and focused her attention on Ken. “Yeah, I told Rachel I’d come get them this week. I didn’t expect to see you here today.” 

“Oh, Carl gave me the afternoon off. We just completed a huge order and he said we all deserved a break.” 

“Well, Carl’s always been a fair man,” Beth replied, trying to act interested. By this time, Tompkins had come up to her and she was able to turn her attention to the shopkeeper. 

As Tompkins helped her gather the order, she was able to occasionally glance at Jimmy and Ken. Both seemed to be doing very little shopping and more watching of her and each other. The unease was beginning to fill the store, but Tompkins never seemed to notice. 

“So I saw Noah and his family board the stage yesterday,” Tompkins said. 

“Yes, they had to go back to Chicago. Everyone misses them already,” she replied. 

“I hear Ike and his bride bought your family’s old place.” 

Out of the corner of her eye she saw Ken drop the boots he was looking at in reaction to that news. “Yes, they did.” 

“Are Cody and Jimmy going to be stickin’ around or are they headin’ back to the Army?” 

Beth couldn’t help but look at Jimmy and frowned when he turned his back on her and Tompkins. “I don’t know. You’d have to ask them.” 

“Well, I asked Hickok,” he said with a nod of his head, “But he didn’t say either.” 

“Then why would I know?” she asked, trying to hide her exasperation. 

“Because the two of you-“ 

“Are just friends. He’s staying at Kid and Lou’s and I haven’t seen much of him.” 

“I just thought with everyone comin’ back for your birthday,” Mr. Tompkins said, not understanding the sudden coldness in her voice. “Well, I’ll just finish your order.” 

“Thank you, Mr. Tompkins,” she said. After he walked off, she kept her back to the store and tried to pretend she couldn’t feel the eyes boring into her back. 

“You didn’t tell me about your birthday,” Ken said, appearing at her side. 

“I didn’t?” 

“No, I would have remembered you mentioning that.” 

“Well,” she said, trying to extricate herself from the conversation. “Nothin’ really to talk about. I don’t like my birthday much.” 

“Someone as attractive as you, surely your birthdays must be fun.” 

Try as she might, she couldn’t keep the slight flush from rushing to her cheeks. She looked over Ken’s shoulder and noticed that Jimmy had moved to the other side of the store, and directly into her field of vision. He appeared to be looking at the canned goods, but Beth knew it was a ruse. Unless he was suddenly interested in horse linament. 

“Well, some have been, some haven’t.” 

“What about this year?” he asked, pressing the conversation. 

“A little bit of both,” she replied truthfully, and noticed Jimmy shot her a look and then pretended to move onto another display of cans. 

“Well then, what if I try and make it up to you?” 

“I’m sorry?” she asked, turning back to him. 

“I’d like to take you out to dinner. What about tomorrow night?” 

Now Jimmy was staring openly at Beth. His eyes were unreadable, but his jaw appeared clenched. His dark eyes bored into her, but it only served to fluster her instead of give her hope. 

“Well, I…tomorrow night?” 

“Or we could go for a picnic Sunday after church if you’d like,” Ken suggested. 

Jimmy suddenly set the can in his hand on the case and turned toward the door resolutely. He was almost to the door when he heard Beth answer. 

“Dinner tomorrow would be nice, Ken.” 

“Who’s Ken?” 

“Well, good afternoon to you too, Jimmy,” Teaspoon said, looking out from underneath his bowler perched over his eyes. 

“Who’s Ken?” he repeated. 

“Now, sit down son. What’s got you so fired up?” 

Jimmy ignored Teaspoon and paced feverishly across the width of the room. It wasn’t until Teaspoon came out from behind the low rail, that Jimmy seemed to remember there was another person in the room. 

“Son?” 

“Who’s Ken, Teaspoon?” 

“Well, there are several Kens in town, Jimmy. What does this particular one look like?” 

“Tall, brown hair, he was talking to Beth over at Tompkins’ store.” 

Teaspoon sat down, a small smile curving his lips. So this is what had Jimmy acting like someone lit a fire in his boots. Ken was talking to Beth, and finally Jimmy was showing some emotion in regards to her. 

“Well now, that’d be Ken Miller. Works over at the lumber mill.” 

“He seemed real friendly with her, Teaspoon. Asked her out to dinner when he heard about her birthday. They do that often?” 

“Go to dinner for her birthday? Well, he’s only been in town about a year,” Teaspoon replied. The glint in his eyes was completely missed by Jimmy. 

“No, just go to dinner, or picnics? He offered to take her on a picnic after church this Sunday.” Jimmy took off his hat and ran a hand through his hair. 

“They’ve seen each other a few times. Ken’s seemed mighty interested in our fair Beth.” 

Jimmy’s eyes narrowed, as he took an internal assessment of the competition. “And what about her? She seemed interested in him?” 

Teaspoon almost hated to toy with the anguished young man sitting in front of him. Almost. Lou and Rachel had both talked to him about what to do with Jimmy and Beth. Teaspoon understood their desire to see the two of them together, the two were constantly looking at the other one when they thought nobody else was looking. But Teaspoon said these two wouldn’t be an easy case. Both were more stubborn than a brace of mules and there was a lot of hurt on Beth’s part when Jimmy stopped writing her. Now he was glad he’d told them to wait a while and see if the two couldn’t work things out on their own. 

“Well, truthfully, Beth never seemed to return the interest as much. In fact I’m kinda surprised he asked her out again.” 

“Why?” Jimmy pounced on the opening. 

“Well, Ken started talking ‘bout a future a few months ago. Nearly proposed marriage to her. But she got real skittish and avoided him. I guess though, she seems to have gotten over that if she’s contemplating dinner or a picnic with him.” 

“She’s doin’ more than just ‘contemplating.’ She accepted his dinner invitation,” Jimmy said with a scowl. “Teaspoon, what am I supposed to do?” 

“’Bout what, son?” 

“About Beth,” Jimmy answered plaintively. 

“Beth? Why, what would you need to do about Beth?” Teaspoon nearly had to fake a cough to keep the smile from his face. 

“Teaspoon, have you lost your senses in the last two and a half years? She’s goin’ out with this Ken fellow.” 

“Well, I don’t see why that’s got you in such a dander. It ain’t like you’ve spoken for her. Unless…” 

“Teaspoon!” 

“You still interested in Beth, Jimmy?” 

“Yes!” he exclaimed and then dropped his head onto the desk. “Guess it don’t matter much none. She ain’t said hardly a dozen words to me since I’ve been back.” 

“Well now, son, that ain’t all her fault,” Teaspoon answered. 

Jimmy looked up, his eyebrows knit together. 

“You ain’t exactly acted like someone who’s interested in a lady. You’ve avoided her and didn’t even hardly wish her a happy birthday, even though I know she was wearin’ those earrings you bought her.” 

“I know she was wearing them. I didn’t remember it was her birthday at first.” 

“So, what’s stopping you now, Jimmy?” 

“Ken Miller.” 

“Ken Miller is a nice enough man. He listens to her and he treats her like she’s a fine lady from Boston instead of just a farmer’s daughter. Women like those things Jimmy, especially when the man they’re truly interested in is acting like a horse’s behind.” 

“So what do I do now, Teaspoon?” 

“Well, son, that’s something you’re going to need to figure out. Admitting you still like her is the biggest piece. I’m sure you’ll be able to come up with something.” 

Then Teaspoon put his feet up on his desk, tipped his bowler over his eyes and settled back in his chair. Jimmy sat there for a minute until he heard Teaspoon’s light snore. Realizing the Marshal truly intended to give him no advice, Jimmy stood up and walked out of the office. He had quite a bit of thinking to do. 

When the door closed, Teaspoon cocked one eye open and chuckled to himself. “Good luck, son.” 
 
 

Chapter Fourteen

Rachel heard the knock on the door and quickly wiped her hands on her apron. Walking across the room to open it she thought that Ken was a bit early, and would just have to wait until Beth was ready. She wished Bryce were here, because she didn’t have time to entertain a guest if she was 
going to get dinner ready on time. 

“Jimmy,” she said in surprise when she opened the door. 

“Hi, Rachel. Is Beth here?” He stepped into the room, wringing his hat in his hands nervously. 

Rachel almost felt sorry for him, but remembered how he had been avoiding Beth all this time. Now, she had a date and she wasn’t going to spare him that knowledge. 

“Well, she is, but she’s upstairs getting ready. She’s going out to dinner tonight.” 

Jimmy swallowed past the lump in his throat and nodded his head. “I heard her make the plans yesterday. I was hoping I could talk to her before then.” 

“Well, let me go see is she has a moment to talk,” Rachel said and headed for the stairs. 

She came down several minutes later and told Jimmy that Beth wasn’t quite ready, but he could wait if he wanted. Jimmy sat and waited while Rachel went back to the kitchen to finish fixing dinner. After fifteen minutes Jimmy figured that Beth had no intention of coming down and told Rachel that he’d 
just try back another time. He made it to his horse and was about to set his foot in the stirrup when he heard the porch door slam closed. 

“Jimmy.” 

He turned around and smiled nervously. “Beth.” 

“Thought you wanted to talk to me?” 

“Well, I figured you were busy getting ready for your date with Ken Miller,” he said, his frustration getting the better of him. 

Her eyes narrowed and he knew he’d made a mistake by laying out that bit of information too quickly. She strode off the porch and stopped in the middle of the yard. 

“What business is it of yours who I go out with?” 

“It isn’t,” he hastily said. 

“It sure didn’t sound that way from your tone of voice. For your information, Ken Miller is a fine man who I happen to enjoy spending time with.” 

Jimmy fought the urge to sway back with the barb that Beth flung at him. “Then I hope you enjoy your dinner.” 

“Oh no you don’t,” she snapped. “You rode over here because you wanted to talk. What did you want to talk about?” 

“We should probably do this another time.” 

“Well, no time like the present.” 

“Beth, really. I’m sorry I came over. I don’t want to ruin your dinner plans. I’ll stop by another time.” 

He put his foot in the stirrup and swung up into the saddle. Turning his horse he nodded in Beth’s direction before nudging his horse in the side. 

“That’s right, James Hickok. Just ride off. You’re real good at talking to people and then just riding away!” 

Beth turned back toward the house in a swirl of skirts and sprinted up the stairs. The door slammed behind her and Jimmy felt his stomach drop to the toes of his boots. That hadn’t gone well at all. 

All the way back to Kid and Lou’s he mentally beat himself up for his stupidity. ‘What did you expect her to do? Not go out with Ken?’ Stopping his horse at the corral he looped the reins around the post and turned towards the house. 

“Hey, Jimmy, you’re back early,” Kid called out. 

Jimmy ignored his friend and headed straight to the house. Lou looked up when he walked in, a scowl deeply etched on his face. 

“Jimmy?” she asked. 

“Not now please, Lou,” he said, heading for the stairs. 

“Jimmy, wait,” she said, not really a plea, but not quite an order. 

He paused at the bottom of the stairs and looked over his shoulder at her. “Lou…” 

“What’s wrong? I thought you were headin’ over to Rachel’s.” 

“I did.” 

“Well, what happened?” 

“She’s going out to dinner with some guy named Ken. She didn’t have time to talk.” 

“Beth’s going to dinner with Ken Miller?” Lou asked, a little surprised. 

“Yeah, why?” Jimmy asked, sensing her hesitation. 

“Nothing,” she said, shaking her head. “I didn’t know she’d started seeing him again.” 

“He asked her out yesterday when he heard Tompkins mention her birthday was last week.” 

“Ah,” Lou said softly. 

“What?” 

“Well, Ken’s taking her out for her birthday, while you all but ignored her during her party.” 

“I did not.” 

“Yes, you did, Jimmy. What is goin’ on with you two?” 

“Nothing,” Jimmy grumped. “That’s the problem.” 

Lou began to laugh; though she tried to hide it. “You’re jealous Jimmy. And you have no right or reason to be.” 

“What do you mean I have no right?” 

“You stopped writing her Jimmy. You told her not to wait for you when you took off with the Army. What did you expect her to do? Throw her arms around you and give you a big kiss when you showed up.” 

“I don’t know,” he said with a shrug. “I thought she might at least act happy to see me.” 

“Why? When you’ve gone out of your way to avoid her, why would she be happy?” 

“Thanks, Lou,” Jimmy said dryly. 

“Hey, I’m not going to sugar-coat it for you Jimmy. You’ve acted-“ 

“Like a horse’s backside?” he said. “Teaspoon told me that yesterday.” 

“Well, I think we learned over the years not to argue with Teaspoon when he’s right.” 

“Thanks, Lou. Wait, what do you mean I don’t have a reason to be jealous?” 

Again, Lou laughed gently. “Have you read her book yet?” 

Jimmy dropped his head and shook it. 

“Then I would suggest you read it. Then you decide for yourself.” 

Lou turned and headed back to her chair, leaving Jimmy alone in his thoughts. Once upstairs in his room, he grabbed his satchel and dug around inside for the book Rachel handed out to everyone the night of Beth’s birthday. Feeling his fingers brush against it, he grabbed hold and pulled it out. Sitting down on the bed he turned up the lamp on the table and opened up the book. 

The following day, Beth saddled her horse and left for a ride. She was so agitated, and Rachel’s attempts to talk to her about Jimmy and Ken were making her crazy. She passed Cody and Jimmy heading to Rachel and Bryce’s and briefly said hi and then she spurred her horse into a gallop. Beth headed west with no particular destination in mind. Finally around noon she stopped to rest her horse by a pond. It was a place she’d never been before and she welcomed the seclusion and peace it afforded. She sat down on the grass, leaning back against a tree and tossed pebbles into the pond. 

Several hours later she felt the toe of a boot prodding her leg. She quickly opened her eyes and sat up while moving away from the person. She stopped when she realized it was Jimmy standing over her. 

“Jimmy, what are you doing here?” 
 

Chapter Fifteen

Jimmy knelt down beside Beth and said, “Rachel and Lou commissioned me to come find you. They were getting worried ‘bout you bein’ gone so long. It was between me and Cody and I drew the short straw.” 

She almost smiled, remembering how he had said that three years ago, when he really volunteered. This time, however, she actually believed he had drawn the short straw. Then why hadn’t he just sent Cody? Because after yesterday, she sure didn’t want to see him. 

“Sorry,” she said. “Guess I fell asleep.” 

He finally sat down in front of her and looked at her. She met his gaze, but just couldn’t tell what was behind his eyes. She wanted to scream at him and ask him why. Why hadn’t he written, why didn’t he talk to her, why did he come over yesterday and then ride away, why was he here now? Instead, she just looked away. She felt the sting of tears coming to her eyes and quickly stood up. She walked away and pressed the heels of her palms into her eyes, trying to staunch the tears before they could start. Turning around, she saw him still sitting there just watching her. 

“I guess we should go.” She just wanted to get on the trail, where they wouldn’t be forced to talk. 

“I read your book last night,” he said not moving, but settling himself more comfortably. “The day Cody and I first came to town we stopped in looking for Teaspoon. He wasn’t in the office so we went to Tompkins’, and he was proud as a peach to show us your book. Told us you were goin’ to be the 
new teacher also.” 

Beth sat down, confusion written on her face. This was the most he’d said to her since he’d returned. Jimmy seemed to pay no attention to her puzzled expression and just kept talking. 

“It was good,” Jimmy continued on. “Everyone just loves your dedication. I’m real sorry about your ma, by the way. Rachel told me about it and how it was real hard on you. How come you didn’t tell me?” 

“You stopped answering my letters. I figured somebody else would tell you,” she said, trying to keep the hurt out of her voice. He didn’t respond, just briefly looked away. 

After several minutes they both spoke at once. “Jimmy why’d you-“ “So how’s your family doing in St. Jo?” 

“Good,” she said with a puzzled shake of her head. “Ben and Kate are doing well in school. Molly’s begun taking piano lessons, and Becca’s got a string of admirers as always. Pa’s doing well, but misses my ma.” 

“They sound like they’re doin’ good and that they like St. Jo. How come you didn’t go with them?” 

“I was helping Rachel at the school, and I liked it here. Pa knew that, plus he figured I needed to be on my own for a while.” 

When she finished speaking they sat in silence until Beth turned to Jimmy. “Why’d you show up yesterday? You obviously heard Ken ask me out, so why did you show up suddenly and want to talk?” 

Jimmy said nothing and Beth stood up in frustration. “I don’t understand you Jimmy. You’re here for a week and you won’t talk to me. Another guy asks me out and you leave the store, but then show up before my date and want to talk. Then you don’t talk to me and just ride off. I don’t understand it!” 

“I…I…” 

“You…what?” 

“I’m sorry,” he finally said. “I’m sorry I didn’t write you. I just couldn’t tell you what I was really feeling. I felt I didn’t have a right.” 

“What do you mean? What couldn’t you write?” 

“I wanted to tell you how much I loved you. How leaving here…how leaving you was a mistake. I’ve spent nearly the last three years regretting that decision. All I could do was think about you, and dream about you. I felt I couldn’t tell you that since I told you not to wait for me. But every letter from everyone here had some mention of you, even when you stopped writing.” 

“Don’t you dare,” she said. “You can’t come here and say you’re sorry and just expect it all to be better. You left, even when I begged you not to. You show up here and you avoided me. I still can’t even begin to understand yesterday, and now you’re sorry?” 

“I was jealous,” he told her. “When Cody and I showed up at the stream, I realized I never stopped loving you, but I didn’t know how you felt. I didn’t know what to do, so I stayed away. Then I saw you with that Ken fellow.” 

“So you were jealous? That’s your excuse?” 

“Yes, and I’m sorry. I still love you, Beth, but if you’ve moved on, if you want to be with Ken then I’ll leave.” 

Beth turned and stalked off. Jimmy stood up, but didn’t move toward her, just stood there watching. Her back remained towards him, but he could feel the anger radiating from her. 

She whirled around and anger sparked in her eyes. “Don’t you dare. Don’t you dare!” 

“Beth,” Jimmy said softly. 

“No! Don’t you tell me I can decide if you stay or go. You didn’t listen to me nearly three years ago when I asked you to stay. Back then we were supposed to mean something to each other.” 

“You did mean something to me, Beth,” he said taking a small step toward her. “But I had to go, I had to make something of myself. I had to be something more than a Pony Express rider or ‘Wild Bill’ Hickok. I left for you.” 

“You left for me?” she asked incredulously. “All I ever wanted was for you to stay. I begged you to stay. I didn’t care who you were or what you did, I just wanted you. I loved you, and part of me still does.” 

“You do?” Jimmy asked, taking another step forward. 

“That’s not the point,” she said defensively. 

“What is?” he asked, taking another step. 

“I’m angry at you,” she said backing up a step. 

“Why? You said you still love me.” 

“Don’t get cocky on me, Jimmy. You left, you stopped writing and like a fool I kept on loving you. Ken's a wonderful man who adores me, and yet I can’t get over the fact that he’s not you.” 

“I adore you,” he said, taking another step causing her to back up once again. 

“Then you should have said something, anything. I thought I meant nothing to you. I tried to move on, but I guess I should have left Sweetwater then. Everywhere I looked there was a memory of you. Maybe at first, I really didn’t want to move on, but now I can’t stay stuck in one place like this.” 

“All I’m asking for is a chance, Beth. A chance to make it up to you, to show you how I’ve never stopped loving you.” 

All the while he was talking, he was slowly walking forward. Beth kept backing up and a bit of a smile started to creep up on Jimmy’s lips. “Yesterday, Lou asked if I’d read you book. When I said I hadn’t she told me to start at the beginning and not just read the last page.” 

Jimmy stopped talking, but continued walking toward Beth. She shot daggers at him, and continued to back up. Finally Jimmy spoke up again, “She also said to pay close attention to the description of the knight on the golden horse who rescues the fair maiden from the ocean.” 

As he said those words Beth took one more step back and right into the lake. A small inlet of the lake had eroded the ground and she didn’t realize how close to the water she was. Jimmy walked up and smiled down at her, sitting in water up to her waist, her skirts billowed up around her by trapped air. 

“Are you alright, Fair Maiden?” 

She splashed water at him, but he harmlessly stepped back out of the way. “Do you need a hand out?” 

“Not from you, I don’t. Not if you’re going to keep laughing at me,” she said with all the indignance she could muster in her present situation. 

He watched her as she tried to stand up, her water-soaked skirts impeding her movements. Finally with a huff she said, “Alright, could you please help me here?” 

“With pleasure, m’lady,” he said and held out his hand for her to grab. She took his hand and managed to climb up onto the bank. Then she turned to Jimmy and with a wicked gleam in her eyes suddenly pushed him. 

When he looked at her, sputtering as he sat in the water, she said, “Don’t think that just because you suddenly became gallant, Sir Knight, that I’m just going to let you off easily.” 

“I wouldn’t expect that with you,” he said stepping up out of the water. He walked up to her, and this time she stood her ground. 

“So, drew the short straw, my noble knight?” she asked, a grin pulling at the corners of her mouth. 

“Something like that,” he said as he brushed her soft hair from her face. He leaned in and gently brushed his lips across hers before capturing them fully. She stood firm for a few seconds, and then slowly melted into his arms as she wrapped her arms around his neck and returned the kiss with passion matching his.